Former Consular Officer in Prague Convicted of Visa Fraud

Alexander J. Meerovich, a former Department of State Foreign Service officer,
was sentenced today to 24 months in prison and fined $5,000 in the U.S. Federal
District Court in Washington, DC. His sentence will be followed by a two-year
term of supervised release.

Mr. Meerovich admitted to issuing at least 85 visas illegally while serving
asa consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Prague from August 1999 to July
2002. He pled guilty to one count of visa fraud on February 6, 2003.

The investigation of Mr. Meerovich s illegal activities was conducted by the
Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, which received
valuableassistance and support from the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the U.S.
embassy in Prague, the Department of Justice and the Czech Police.

The Department of State is resolute in its determination to protect the
integrity of the U.S. visa. We constantly review visa issuance procedures
forimprovements and safeguards at embassies and consulates worldwide. We
will continue to investigate all allegations of visa fraud vigorously and seek
to prosecute and punish those people involved to the fullest extent of the
law.